Fight for Hawker Rights Will Intensify: Shaktiman Ghosh

• Federation warns of statewide agitation over stalled law implementation

Pimpri / Mumbai : National General Secretary of the National Hawker Federation Shaktiman Ghosh said the federation would launch a strong movement if the government and local authorities continued to delay the implementation of the law meant to protect street vendors across the country.

Ghosh was speaking at an important statewide meeting organised by the National Hawker Federation, Maharashtra Hawker Federation and Maharashtra Feriwala Kranti Mahasangh at Lalbaug-Parel in Mumbai on Saturday. The meeting discussed the implementation of the street vendors’ law and the difficulties faced by vendors in different parts of Maharashtra.

“The law for street vendors across the country was achieved through a struggle in Delhi. If the government and local bodies continue to avoid its effective implementation, we will once again launch a strong struggle for its implementation,” Ghosh said.

He alleged that while large industrialists were being given various concessions and loan waivers, street vendors were not receiving adequate facilities and access to credit was also becoming increasingly difficult. The federation was capable of taking up the issue and would launch a campaign across all states for effective implementation of the law, he said.

Federation working president Kashinath Nakhate said the situation of street vendors varies across different cities in Maharashtra. In many places, the provisions of the street vendors’ law are not being effectively implemented, resulting in difficulties and alleged injustice to vendors.

“The street vendors’ law should not remain only on paper. Vendors must get the right to conduct their businesses with dignity along with the necessary facilities,” Nakhate said.

He further demanded that the state government issue clear directions to all municipal corporations and local self-government bodies for effective implementation of the law. He said the federation would soon pursue the matter with the state government and seek concrete measures.

“Wherever injustice is faced by street vendors, we will organise and fight collectively,” Nakhate said.

National General Secretary Shaktiman Ghosh, Federation Working President Kashinath Nakhate, National Women’s General Secretary Anita Das, coordinator Mekaji Dabare, secretary Vinita Balekundri, Mathadi workers’ leader Subhash Marathe, Baban Kamble, municipal committee member Kiran Sadekar, members Raju Birajdar, Aniket Thorat, Rajesh Mane, Vidya Ramgude and Husna Khan, Bibhisen Jadhav and other office-bearers attended the meeting.

Representatives from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Ahilyanagar, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Nagpur, Navi Mumbai and Panvel were also present.